FIC: Freeway
Title: Freeway (Part Two. Part one is here.)
Rating: R.
Mood:Enamoured
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: The continuing adventures of Bart and Tim in AU-land.
Tim doesn't have to wear a robe today. He almost feels like doing a victory dance. Of course, he doesn't. He does remember the concept of dignity. Bart seems to forget it for a moment however, actually doing a small victory dance. Tim is grateful they're alone in the room.
"No robes!" he exclaims, then picks up his clothing and eyes it dubiously. "Umm. Tim does this look like it's one piece to you?" Tim snickers.
"Absolutely. Aww, come on, it can't be much different than wearing your costume." Bart sighs, strips, and pulls it on. It fits really quite nicely, and Tim picks up his own and puts it on to make sure he doesn't stare too much. He tries to pretend that it doesn't look like they're both wearing black velvet body gloves. A few people enter with coats. Tim is quite jealous of Bart's, it being bulky and covering. His isn't a coat at all it's some sort of... he's not sure. Some sort of black sheer thing that doesn't even close at the front and he wants his cape now.
It's still dark out when they board the large boat, and there is a shell-shaped bed built into the floor right inside the first door.
Bart gives him a glance, indicating they should get in the bed, and Tim allows Bart to pull him into it. Bart holds him closer than absolutely necessary to maintain cover, pulling the blankets around them and spooning.
"It's cold," he offers as explanation, and well, he's definitely not wrong. When Tim wakes up again, Bart's arms are still wrapped tightly around him, though he's awake. Tim suspects he's been slipping into super-speed in his sleep or something.
People move around them as they lie there, but Bart makes no motion to get up, so Tim remains still. Bart plants a kiss in his hair, and rolls him over to face him, hands skimming over his sides. Tim swallows. Bart's raised eyebrow is the only warning before the slow kiss he receives. This isn't acting anymore. It's not and it maybe wasn't much in the first place and he is going to get a headache if he thinks too much, so he just holds on and kisses back.
Bart pulls away after a few moments, then kisses along his jaw, down his neck, and back up, before planting a final kiss on his forehead. Bart climbs out of the bed, and dons his coat. Tim stands as well, still feeling a little off balance. His "coat" is handed to him as well, and he pulls it on, though it does little good. He follows Bart to the rail.
They come to shore approximately half an hour later, at the bay of a gigantic city. It goes on for as far as Tim can see, and he thinks it might actually rival New York in size. The streets are packed, and Bart dons a crown of sorts before disembarking, and takes Tim on his arm. Flowers are tossed and people bow as they pass, and Tim can feel the tension in Bart's body, how uncomfortable he is with it.
Throughout the day, they tour numerous temples, finally coming to the main one for dinner hour. The arrangements are different here, and Tim notices that Bart speaks to someone before the banquet begins and there is another chair at the table after this. Tim takes a seat in it, glancing to see that it looks like he would've been seated on the floor with something that looks suspiciously like a harem.
Tim does not like this temple. He wants to go back to the other one. He and Bart exchange a quick glance. Something is definitely wrong at this temple. They'll have to stay and figure out what. Tim rather hopes it's something as trivial as corrupt but mostly harmless priests.
Tim also wants different clothes, now because if he'd felt a bit objectified before, it's nothing to now. People seem to be openly looking at him like some kind of meat. When they finish dinner and get a tour, Bart keeps an arm around Tim at all times, and there is far less respect for Bart here too, more of a sense of something Tim doesn't like at all. He just hopes they can find something here that will help them get home.
Suddenly Bart stops. Tim frowns, and looks to him. Bart points to the door, and says something in the alien's language. They open it for him. They all walk inside. Suddenly, Bart disappears. Tim has a few moments of undiluted panic before he is relieved to see Bart reappear, and then immediately concerned by the fact that he looks a lot worse for wear. Bart smiles however, and comes over and kisses him, and then Tim realizes he's doing that so there's an excuse for Tim to be holding him up. It takes him a few minutes to regain his feet. He announces something to the room when he breaks their kiss.
"There was a connection to the Evil speed force in this room, I got sucked in but I broke it," Bart explains to him quietly. They head to bed shortly after, and as soon as they're alone, Bart takes off for a quick super-speed search.
He comes back a full minute later, making Tim concerned. "Someone here is connected with the evil speed force," Bart says, frowning. "I'm going to have to find out who." Bart sighs then, and strips out of his outfit, climbing into the bed. Tim follows suit. Bart shifts and climbs on top of him. He looks down at Tim nervously, and Tim has to bite his lip. Bart hesitantly touches his chest with a hand and Tim can't help but arch up into the touch. "Is this okay?" asks Bart in a nervous half-whisper.
"Absolutely," Tim breathes, and leans up to kiss him. Bart sighs into the kiss, and runs his hands down Tim's body, parting Tim's legs and settling between them. Tim moans and squeezes Bart's waist with his thighs, causing Bart's hips to jerk against him in a way that feels absolutely amazing. They wrap their arms around each other and deepen the kiss, carefully exploring each other's mouths with their tongues. Bart makes an incredible soft little noise and starts moving against him, and it's gentle and Tim doesn't want to call it humping because that just trips up his brain but it really kind of is.
"Holy shit!" exclaims someone, and then, "Bartholomew Allen!" Tim and Bart break apart, and Bart sits up.
"Max?" he demands, and then blushes the brightest shade of red Tim has ever seen, and pulls the covers up around himself tightly.
"Yeah, something disrupted the evil speed force and I got my body back, but we'll talk about that later. You have five seconds to explain before you're grounded." Bart frowns, and raises an eyebrow. Then looks quickly between Tim and Max.
"Tim, this is Max, Max this is Tim. He's my..." Bart gives him a quick glance and Tim nods. "lover." Max takes a sharp breath and sits down on a nearby chair, raking a hand through his hair.
"Christ," he says after a moment. "Get stuck in the Speed Force for a few years, and all of the sudden you're all grown up," he says, giving a weak and obviously forced chuckle. Bart frowns, grabs for the white bathrobe by his side of the bed and disentangles himself from Tim, pulling it on. Tim grabs his own bathrobe and pulls it on, and was going to wait on the bed, but Bart grabs his hand and tugs him along to sit down on the couch.
The rest of the night is spent explaining the situation, which Max seems to find as troubling as they do, though he is quite amused when Bart bashfully explains the part about them assuming him to be a God. It's Max's turn to blush when Bart adds that Max is considered the most powerful of their Gods.
Eventually, Tim starts feeling quite tired. Bart senses it, and tugs him closer, and Tim falls asleep against his side. When he wakes up, he's back in the bed, and alone. He finds today's outfit to be another black velvet body glove, with a different, cloak-like over robe. He gets dressed, and catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and has to wonder when he'll be staring in Return of the Jedi.
Y'ur'ash is outside the door when he leaves the room.
"Good morning," Tim says.
"Good morning. The arrival of Ry'mx'wn'dr'ner is good news. This is from My'br'ta'mol'we'mue breaking the connection, no?" Tim nods.
"I believe so." Y'ur'ash smiles.
"Come, I will take you to him. They will be breaking fast shortly." The seating arrangements have changed now, an even larger throne provided for Max, with Bart seated to his left an a priest to his right. There is a chair for Tim to Bart's left.
Bart smiles when he sits down, and Max doesn't. He gets the feeling Max doesn't exactly approve of him. He didn't expect to be approved of though, so he sits and lets pretty much everyone but Bart pretend he doesn't exist.
Apparently, Bart taught Max the language in super-speed or something, because Max is speaking it, making a large speech to the assembled people. The people bow there heads solemnly and look serious. Max says a few more words, and people straighten and begin to eat.
"He told them he was here to seek where the evil speed force was rooted in this world, and then we would all return to the divine realms for there were great battles to be done," Bart whispers to him, before turning his attention to the priest, who is conversing with Max.
Tim is feeling slightly morose while he eats, until he feels a foot push against his slightly. He looks up at Bart, who smiles secretively. Tim smiles and pushes his own foot back against Bart's.
After breakfast they head out through the city. Inside their carriage, there is only Bart, Max, Tim, and Y'ur'ash. It is uncomfortably silent.
"We're going on another boat trip," Bart says to him eventually. "There is a mountain that is said to be home of a great evil, and it's in the middle of the ocean. We'd just run there, but... you know," he says. Tim nods. There is another bit of silence. Max sits forward.
"Bart."
"Yes, Max?" Max sighs, and looks at him and then Y'ur'ash briefly. Max and Bart blur, having a conversation at super-speed. Tim sighs, and Y'ur'ash watches in amazement. About five minutes later, they slow back down to a normal speed. Bart wraps an arm purposefully around Tim. Max frowns.
Y'ur'ash fidgets ever so slightly. The poor scholar was probably very worried about a fight between Gods happening before his eyes. Tim gives what he hopes is a reassuring look.
Thankfully, they arrive at the docks a few moments later.
A smaller yet more ornate boat than before is waiting, and they board along with a few dozen others, the crew and some highly placed officials, Tim guesses.
Upon the boat, a new horror faces them. They are led to a room containing two seashell beds in the floor. Tim swallows hard. Bart frowns, the slips out of his shoes, and takes off his intricate over robe, before pulling Tim's robe off as well. Tim slips out of his shoes nervously, and Bart pulls him down onto the bed. A fruit platter is set down on a low table beside them. Tim watches from the corner of his eye as Max sits down on the other bed and gets a fruit platter set down by him as well. Bart and Max seem to be trying very hard to ignore the other's presence. This is not good. Tim is about to ask, but Bart presses a finger to his mouth and shakes his head.
"Not now." Tim nods. Bart smiles wryly and reaches for one of the round blue fruits and breaks it neatly in half. He offers half to Tim, and Tim takes it, drinking the juice from the inside before eating the outside. Bart eats his half as well, and then pulls Tim under the covers. Tim blushes, but Bart just pulls him close and turns him so they're spooning again. They fall asleep for a while, and Tim wakes up when Bart lets go of him to get out of the bed. Tim turns, and Bart gives him a soft kiss before leaving.
Tim realizes once he's gone that he has been left alone in the room with Max. Tim frowns, and gets out of the bed, slipping on his shoes and over robe again, before taking a seat in one of the chairs. After a few moments, Max gets up and comes to sit beside him.
"So," says Max. "I care about Bart a great deal. If you ever hurt him, in any way, you will regret it." Obviously, the Flash family is not quite as good at threats as the Bat family. Tim doesn't want to *think* about what Bruce will say to Bart.
"I won't hurt him. I couldn't." Max doesn't look convinced. "I realize I made probably one of the worst first impressions possible, but I have a lot of respect for Bart. This isn't a fling. Neither of us would've proceeded... as far as we have... if we thought our relationship was... casual... in any way."
"Good," says Max. They continue to sit awkwardly, and eventually Bart comes back. When he sees them sitting beside each other he grins, and promptly sits down in the chair on Tim's other side.
"Hey," he says, taking Tim's hand and squeezing it.
"Hey," Tim says back, smiling.
"We're almost there," Bart says. Tim frowns, and double checks that his knife is still in it's holster. He doesn't like this.
"We'd best head up to the bridge then," says Max.
Soon they are anchored, and Tim notes that very few people leave the boat. They climb up the mountain a ways, before coming to a small palace. Bart looks at him.
"Tim, you're going to have to stay outside. Only Max and I can go in safely."
"I'm not letting you go in there without me!" Tim whispers furiously.
"Tim, I can take care of myself," Bart says. Max frowns at them both.
"Yeah, well so can I. And we have no idea what's in there. You can use the extra help." Max steps forward.
"Bart is right. It is too dangerous. This is no job for civilians." Tim laughs.
"Well it's a good thing I'm no civilian. I have RT-3 Watchtower clearance." Max's eyes widen. Well, technically, he doesn't on any official records, but Batman has that clearance, so being Robin, he gets it as well. Besides, most people don't even know the name of that level of clearance, much less who has it. "You're going in blind, and you could use the help," Tim repeats. Max frowns.
"Very well. Arguing is just wasting time. Let's go." Bart gives him a ‘don't you dare get hurt look’, which Tim returns full force.
They enter the temple. Bart and Max immediately disappear. It's dark. Tim draws his knife, and waits for his eyes to adjust. There's a large crystal globe sitting on the dais. Inside, he can see Bart and Max battling hundreds of dark figures. They're against impossible numbers, and their powers don't seem to be working right.
Tim looks around the dais for something, anything he can understand. A panel lights up suddenly, burningly bright for a moment until his eyes get used to light again. Incomprehensible lines suddenly turn to English.
"I am the Speed Force," it reads. Tim frowns. "What are you doing on this world, Earth mortal?"
"I'm here with Bart. And Max. Please, do you know how I can save them?"
"Yes," the block reads. "Put your hands here." Two hands prints trace themselves out on the panel. Tim can see no other choice than to trust this thing. He puts his hands on the hand prints.
Tim screams. Pain surges through him and he forces himself to stop, bites his lip until it bleeds, and he hears the crystal break behind him. The light disappears and he falls to the floor. He can feel nothing but pain and the sense of another presence. The presence is terrified. It's kneeling beside someone, picking them up, cradling them.
Bart, Tim thinks, and manages to whisper this. He doesn't know anymore for a long time.
He wakes up on the boat. Bart's arms are around him. He aches pretty much everywhere, and he thinks his hands must be burnt.
"Tim? Tim! Oh you scared me so much," Bart says, turning him and holding him. "You idiot," he adds.
"Nice to see you too," Tim rasps. Bart lets go of him and props him up in the bed, before holding a cup to his mouth. Tim drinks slowly, blushing at the need for help. "What happened?" asks Tim after he finishes the drink, and Bart sets the cup back down.
"That head priest guy? He made a deal with the dark speed force. It was going to slowly take us all over or destroy us. When Max and I entered it's temple, we got sucked in right away, and we were fighting it and losing. I talked to the speed force after, while you were out of it. You... it used you to get to me and pull me out, and once the way was open, Max could follow in the slipstream. But. Well. It could use you because we're, uh, bonded. Not literally. In the, um..."
"You're saying we're soul mates?" Tim questions when Bart doesn't continue. Bart nods, brushing Tim's bangs aside gently.
"It, uh. Well. You know how they're always saying how love is powerful? I guess it is, 'cause the speed force used it to break the dark speed force. I mean, it still exists, but it's ties to anyone in the real world. Er. Worlds. Are gone."
"Good," Tim says, and blinks a few times because he's really kind of tired still. "Love you," he says.
"I love you too, Tim," Bart says. Tim nods, and drifts back to sleep.
The next time he wakes up, he feels better. His hands still hurt and he has a headache, but the whole body ache has stopped at least. He sits up, and finds they're back in the first temple they'd arrived in. Bart is asleep beside him. Tim smiles, and slips out of bed. He's grateful he only needs to slip on a robe, as the bandages on his hands make just that difficult enough.
Max is sleeping on the couch. Tim smiles ruefully, and is debating on whether he should venture outside the room, when there is a rustle of movement from the bed. Nanoseconds later, Bart is standing beside him, and Bart hugs him carefully.
"I'm right here, promise," Tim says softly, hugging back as much as he can. "I'm alright Bart." Bart nods against his neck and pulls away.
"Come on, they've made a salve to put on your hands as soon as you're awake. It's supposed to work really well." Bart leads him through the halls, to what must be the medical room of the temple. A woman comes and unwraps his hands. Tim winces. They certainly don't look pretty, though he has had worse burns, just not on that big of an area. She produces a bowl of something for Tim to set his hands in. It stings, but Tim is surprised to find his skin regrow at a startling pace. Bart smiles, and rubs his back. "The speed force is very present in this world. Even in some medicines. Though I did give this one a little... extra boost," he admits.
"Thanks," says Tim. Bart says something to the healer, who blushes and bows. Bart nods, and pulls Tim to his feet as he stands. They head back to the bedroom. Max is still asleep, but Bart wakes him. Max stands, brushing himself off awkwardly.
"Tim. It's good to see you up and about."
"It's good to be up, sir." Max clears his throat.
"Right. I'll be seeing you at breakfast." He speeds out of the room. As soon as Max is gone, Bart pulls him into a long kiss. Bart breaks the kiss and grins.
"Breakfast isn't for another few hours." Tim grins back, and tilts his head quizitively towards the bed. Bart kisses him again, and lifts him up, carrying him there and setting him down at super-speed. They've both lost their robes in the process. They're just in sweatpants now, and that's really quite excellent.
They kiss passionately, tongues pressing together and licking each other's mouths and Tim breathes through his nose because there's no way he's breaking this kiss until he absolutely needs to. Bart's humping him again, and it's hard this time, and it's still not enough, and Tim mewls into their kiss and shoves desperately down at Bart's sweatpants.
Super-speed is a really great power, because Bart gets the rest of their clothes off almost as fast as Tim needs him to. Bart breaks their kiss and Tim moans at the loss, but Bart just slides down his body, kissing along the way, and Bart opens his mouth and oh he's going to--
Warm, wet heat around him makes Tim groan, and Bart closes his eyes and sucks, and Tim has to force his hips to stay down so he won't choke him.
"Yes, oh Bart," he manages, and Bart sucks harder, and strokes him too, and then Tim whimpers and comes. He didn't realize he'd closed his eyes, but when he opens them, Bart is gently stroking his face, looking down at him with wide golden eyes.
"Hey, love. Was it... How are you?" Tim grins stupidly. He feels incredibly relaxed and just blissful.
"Absolutely amazing." Bart grins and kisses him and Tim can taste himself and that's really amazing too. Tim licks the taste out of Bart's mouth and then slowly pulls out of their kiss. "Tell me what you want. I want to give you... everything." Bart moans and grinds against him.
"God, Tim. I want. Oh I want inside you." Tim clutches Bart close and kisses him again, brief and hard.
"Do it. I want you to, please Bart."
They lie together for a long time after, and Bart plays idly with his hair, smoothing and rearranging it, and his breath is warm and nice against Tim's neck. Eventually, Bart props himself up on his elbows.
"Up to a bath?" Bart asks, and Tim moans softly.
"If you carry me there," he replies, and Bart smiles.
"Deal." He gets picked up gently, and Tim laughs softly, and nuzzles into Bart's chest. Bart climbs into the tub and sits down with him, turn on taps to fill it with warm water. Tim sighs and lets himself doze a little as Bart cleans them. Bart helps him out of the bath, and he's sore, but it's not really a bad thing.
The black velvet "travel clothes" are set out, and Tim has to wonder where they're going today. The most intricate robes he has seen yet are set out for them both, and they seem to match, both black in colour with similar silver embroidery. Although, Tim holds back a snicker, Bart's have little jewels along the sleeves and Tim's do not. Bart also dons a silver crown.
When they get to breakfast, they exchange a very brief amused look as Max sits at the head of the table in gold robes with a gold crown. Max and Bart both say a few words, and there is clapping and cheering, and then everyone begins to eat.
After breakfast, they head down to the lower levels of the temple.
"I found something, earlier," Max explains, "they've got a portal down here. I've activated it, and it'll send us home." Tim smiles. It'll be good to go home. At the same time, he'll miss this place a little. He turns to Y'ur'ash.
"Thank you, for everything," Tim says. Y'ur'ash smiles.
"It has been an honour, Tm'oth'Y. This adventure will be recorded in the book of legends. I wish you well."
"May you go well as well," Tim says. Bart takes his hand, and then Max's.
"Ready?" Max asks. Tim and Bart nod. They all step through the portal.
They reappear in Titans Tower, almost exactly in the places they'd disappeared from.
Kon starts laughing. Gar joins him.
"Where did you *go*?" demands Cassie, bewildered.
"That's a really long story for another time," says Max. "Please excuse me, I need contact the Flash." Max disappears.
"Dudes! Nice *dresses*."
"They're *robes*," Tim snaps. And he's quite grateful for his because it has so far hidden how awkward walking is for him at the moment. His statement, however, causes Kon and Gar to laugh harder, and even Cassie giggles.
It's good to be home.
~
End.